| Gov. Evers Delivers Radio Address Celebrating Launch of Two New Programs to Fight PFAS Statewide and Ensure Wisconsinites Can Access Clean, Safe Drinking Water |
MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today delivered his weekly radio address celebrating the launch of two new grant programs that will provide funding to help communities sample private wells and public water supplies for PFAS contamination. The two grant programs are funded by the $125 million PFAS Trust Fund, which was previously approved in the 2023-25 Biennial Budget but languished unspent in Madison for years despite the governor’s persistent demands for the funds to be released. Earlier this year, that funding was released thanks to 2025 Wisconsin Acts 200 and 201, which were signed by Gov. Evers. PFAS Community Grants Sampling Program The PFAS Community Grants Sampling Program provides eligible municipalities with funding to sample for PFAS in private wells, public water supplies at eligible schools and child care facilities, and wastewater and other eligible materials at treatment plants. Municipalities are broadly defined by these laws and include counties, cities, villages or towns, Tribal governing bodies, utility or sewerage districts, lake protection districts, and technical college districts. The DNR will accept applications for Cycle A of the PFAS Community Grants Sampling Program for approximately six months. Communities that need additional time to develop sampling plans and submit an application for grant funding will be able to apply in additional grant cycles. Each municipality will design and implement its own sampling program that reflects the needs and priorities of the community. Municipalities that find PFAS contamination in public water systems may be able to apply for funding through existing DNR funding programs to install treatment systems or construct new wells. Wisconsin PFAS Private Well Testing Program (WisPPWT) The WisPPWT program will allow private well owners and users to sample their private well for PFAS if they do not reside within a municipality that is pursuing a community grant. Once the private well owner or user is confirmed to be eligible for PFAS sampling through WisPPWT, the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene (WSLH) will ship a home sample kit to their residence. The private well owner or user will collect a water sample and ship it back to the WSLH using a pre-paid shipping label. Many local municipalities are also taking advantage of funding available to expand sampling efforts. Due to limited funding, private well owners and users who are interested in sampling their well for PFAS are encouraged to contact their local officials about community-based plans for PFAS sampling. The PFAS Community Grants Sampling Program is funded from the governor’s $79 million investment in community-based programs in Acts 200 and 201, and the WisPPWT program is funded from a $10 million allocation in the same bills. In addition to programs being announced today, the DNR is also working to update or launch additional grant programs, which will be announced in the coming months. Grants for sampling irrigation wells, agriculture, and landfill leachate for PFAS, as well as dedicated funding for PFAS-related efforts at public airports, are expected to be available in 2027. Acts 200 and 201 also added $35 million to the state’s Well Compensation Grant Program and expanded eligibility thresholds so more households and businesses will be eligible for funding. Private well owners or users who find PFAS contamination through either of the two new programs announced today may also be able to apply for funding through the expanded Well Compensation Grant Program to install a new treatment system, construct a new well, or connect to a public water supply. Additional grant programs to aid in the state’s efforts to ensure clean, safe water for Wisconsinites, also to be funded by the PFAS Trust Fund, will be announced in the coming months. |
Editor’s note: From Copilot: PFAS (per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large class of synthetic chemicals—often called “forever chemicals”—used since the 1950s in products like non‑stick cookware, waterproof fabrics, food packaging, and firefighting foam, and they persist in the environment and the human body due to extremely strong carbon‑fluorine bonds.
Why PFAS Are a Concern
- Persistence: PFAS do not break down easily, leading to long‑term environmental and biological accumulation. Wikipedia+1
- Bioaccumulation: Found in the blood of 97% of Americans, according to CDC data. National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Health risks: Some PFAS are linked to cancers, thyroid disease, immune suppression, high cholesterol, pregnancy complications, and developmental issues
